A Warm Welcome, a Sweet Goodbye, and Everything in Between
You might not expect a tropical fruit to play a role in your East Texas real estate journey, but it's an important part of the experience with Austin.
Every buyer and seller who works with him gets a pineapple and a picture, marking the end of a deal and the beginning of a new chapter.
Why? It's not just a quirky habit. It's a tradition rooted in the history of hospitality itself.
A Symbol With a Story
The pineapple hasn't always been a fruit that could easily be bought. Back in the 1700s, it was the ultimate showstopper.
The pineapple was so rare and precious in Europe that noblemen would rent them from others just to show off at dinner parties.
Before it became a European status symbol, however, the pineapple had another meaning, one born in the Caribbean.
When explorers first encountered it, they noticed locals hanging the fruit outside their homes to greet visitors. It was a gesture of goodwill – a symbol of warmth, generosity, and openness.
That tradition continued in colonial America, where pineapples showed up carved into door frames and etched into gateposts, a clear message that signified, "You're welcome here."
Turning Houses Into Homes
For Austin, real estate isn't just about keys and contracts. It's about people and about helping everyone find their place and feel at home. That's why every time a client closes with him, they get a pineapple. It's a sweet, symbolic way to say, "Here's to fresh starts and fruitful beginnings."
More Than a Tradition
In an industry that's often all business, Austin's tradition is a reminder that kindness matters, that every client is more than a transaction, and that no matter where in the world you call home – from the Caribbean to East Texas – a little hospitality goes a long way.
If you see Austin walking up your driveway with a pineapple in hand, know this: you're not just closing a deal. You're joining a tradition that's hundreds of years old and still as sweet as ever.
